Air Pollution in
the United
Kingdom
SMOG
 London,
the capital of the United
Kingdom, is notorious for air
pollution. In fact, the word smog was
first used in 1905 to describe the air
in London. Smog is air pollution
caused by sunlight acting on gases
from automobile and factory
exhausts. It sometimes hangs over
cities in the United Kingdom.
 Thick
London smog happens when water
in the air mixes with smoke particles
from a coal fire. In the Great Smog of
1952, the smog was so dense that, for
four days, the people in London could
not see what in front of them.

London Smog
Transportation was slowed, crime
increased, and thousands of
people died from the pollution.
People around the world were
suddenly frightened. They began
to worry about the quality of the
air they were breathing in
London Smog
The United Kingdom’s major
natural resources are oil, natural
gas, and coal. Much of the United
Kingdom’s manufacturing uses
these resources.
Factories were built in Europe near coal fields
The Industrial Revolution began around the
coalfields where fuel was cheap and available.
Many people in the UK work in these
coalfields.
Today, coal from these fields still fuels
the country’s power plants. It also burns
in fireplaces and stoves in many homes.
The use of coal is decreasing. However,
this means fewer jobs for workers in
coal mining.
In the past, the major source of air
pollution was smoke and sulfur dioxide
from burning coal or other fossil
fuels. Today, exhaust from gasoline
and diesel powered vehicles is the
major problem. Asthma and pneumonia
are linked to vehicle emissions.
This makes people concerned about air
pollution and health. It burns the lungs,
nose and eyes and endangers human life.
High air pollution keeps children and senior
citizens indoors. Air pollution also blackens
buildings and threatens wildlife.
As far back as the 1300s, King Edward I
tried to solve the problem by banning coal
fires.
After the Great Smog, the government created smokeless
zones in London where only smokeless fuels could be used.
Cleaner coals, increased use of electricity, and use of gas have
reduced air pollution.
Today the government sets limits for
industry. Laws have forced automakers to
build vehicles that produce less harmful
exhaust. The government regularly checks
air quality. It asks citizens to drive less
and use cleaner forms of energy.
Londoners no longer experience the
blackout smog of the 1950s. Air quality
has improved.
However, the UK still ranks in the
top 10 in the world in harmful industries
emissions.
Air pollution in the UK continues to cause
acid rain in many countries in Western
Europe.